Elder A. Vogel Sr., 87, of New Sewickley Township passed away Tuesday at Rochester Manor.

Born June 2, 1929, in Warrendale, he was the son of the late Arthur Christian Vogel and Dorothy Lavina Crea.

Elder was a lifelong dairy farmer and was also employed by Halstead & Mitchell. He proudly served in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War for four years. Elder was a member of the Christ Bible Church for many years. He was a lifetime member of the Big Knob Fire Department and belonged to Big Knob Grange. He also was a member of the Big Knob Antique Tractor and Equipment Association and a dairy cattle judge.

Elder was an outstanding citizen and advocate for agriculture. He served on the planning commission for New Sewickley Township, on other county boards and as state director for both the PA Farm Bureau and the PA Holstein Association. He also was a board member and a chairman of the Farm Service Agency.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his loving wife of 61 years, June Brenner Vogel; his two sons, Elder (Sue) Vogel Jr. of New Sewickley Township and Karl (Kimberly Alwine) Vogel of Cranberry Township; two daughters, Barbara (Rodger) Goehring of Cranberry Township and Judy (Jack) Lemon of New Sewickley Township; his brothers, Lester Vogel of Wexford and Alvin (Donna) Vogel of Evans City; five grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three nephews; and two nieces.

In addition to his parents, Elder was preceded in death by his sister, Florence Young; and his brother, William.

VOGEL — Friends of Elder A. Vogel Sr., who died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Glenn-Kildoo Funeral Home, 219 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople.A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Big Knob Grange, 336 Grange Road, Rochester, with the Rev. Jimmy Caraway, pastor, officiating.Elder will be laid to rest at St. John's Burry's Church Cemetery with full military honors.If desired, memorial donations may be made in his honor to the Big Knob Volunteer Fire Department Station #1, Box 1229, PA-989, Rochester, PA 15074.Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.